kay_slayerofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Katherine and the Duke of Ravenwood are complete opposites and they despise each other. Or do they? Their love story is sweet. The effort they each make in attempts to prove to the other that they are loved is touching. Almost makes me want to fall in love . . . Almost.
Katherine and the Duke of Ravenwood are complete opposites and they despise each other. Or do they? Their love story is sweet. The effort they each make in attempts to prove to the other that they are loved is touching. Almost makes me want to fall in love . . . Almost.
waclements7's review against another edition
4.0
This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC from NetGalley.
3.5 stars. An enjoyable romance between two people who would never have chosen one another, but are perfect for one another. I liked the inclusion of Aunt Havers, and how she is treated with respect by her niece and husband. The way the relationship grows, with each individual learning to balance home and business life, and admiring the other's ability to do so as well, is refreshing. I was glad Katherine could continue with her passion after the necessity of marriage. Problems are easily solved, but that's sometimes really nice in a romance, and I had fun reading this one.
3.5 stars. An enjoyable romance between two people who would never have chosen one another, but are perfect for one another. I liked the inclusion of Aunt Havers, and how she is treated with respect by her niece and husband. The way the relationship grows, with each individual learning to balance home and business life, and admiring the other's ability to do so as well, is refreshing. I was glad Katherine could continue with her passion after the necessity of marriage. Problems are easily solved, but that's sometimes really nice in a romance, and I had fun reading this one.
verityw's review against another edition
2.0
****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review****
Hmmmm. So I thought this was ok. NO more than OK. I read the first few books in the series with varying results - my net opinion being "not terrible" and this is kind of the same - I didn't ever feel like I got a handle on why the characters were like they were and why they didn't like each other at the start. There were some timeline issues towards the end too which had me going back and checking up I hadn't missed something crucial. I don't think I'll bother to fill in the gaps.
Hmmmm. So I thought this was ok. NO more than OK. I read the first few books in the series with varying results - my net opinion being "not terrible" and this is kind of the same - I didn't ever feel like I got a handle on why the characters were like they were and why they didn't like each other at the start. There were some timeline issues towards the end too
Spoiler
a piece of paper given to the heroine the previous evening is described as worn smooth by useageSpoiler
Also this book confirms my dislike of plots involving women who don't want babies because it could kill them doing an abrupt about face when they fall in love with the right man. No satisfactory resolution to this - and so many pitfalls in the relationship between the h and H on the way there.michellini90's review against another edition
3.0
(Free ARC provided by Netgalley.com)
3.75 stars..... A fast and enjoyable read, although I like my stories to have more dialogue than what was given in this book. I felt like I was inside the authors head more than I was the characters. It just felt like overkill for the author to have to explain that much of what the characters were feeling. I wanted to feel them experience these emotions and different trials. Instead, I felt like a kid being read a bedtime story. One major thing that really got under my skin though is that, although the Duke refers to his actual name in his musings, we never hear him called by such. Not even by his wife and sister.
Now that I've gotten my complaining out of the way... when Aunt Havens went missing and when Kate decided she was going to give up her dreams to be a proper duchess, I have to tell you, I teared up... and not just a little. Blame it on the pregnancy hormones if you will, but I could picture my 80 year old grandmother sitting out in that pouring rain just like Aunt Havens.
I definitely saw major character growth with Katherine, but not so much with the Duke. I loved reading his journey, but I just felt like Kate was the one who really stepped up in her role, and therefore brought Ravenwood out of his shell. At the same time, I can understand the Duke's perspective. Having a large family of my own, and a man who has so many demands on his time and energy, I supported Kate in her decisions about handling the Duke.
I have 2 of the previous books in this series, and I can't wait to dive into them. I love reading books where the author isn't afraid for her heroine to just be a woman.
3.75 stars..... A fast and enjoyable read, although I like my stories to have more dialogue than what was given in this book. I felt like I was inside the authors head more than I was the characters. It just felt like overkill for the author to have to explain that much of what the characters were feeling. I wanted to feel them experience these emotions and different trials. Instead, I felt like a kid being read a bedtime story. One major thing that really got under my skin though is that, although the Duke refers to his actual name in his musings, we never hear him called by such. Not even by his wife and sister.
Now that I've gotten my complaining out of the way... when Aunt Havens went missing and when Kate decided she was going to give up her dreams to be a proper duchess, I have to tell you, I teared up... and not just a little. Blame it on the pregnancy hormones if you will, but I could picture my 80 year old grandmother sitting out in that pouring rain just like Aunt Havens.
I definitely saw major character growth with Katherine, but not so much with the Duke. I loved reading his journey, but I just felt like Kate was the one who really stepped up in her role, and therefore brought Ravenwood out of his shell. At the same time, I can understand the Duke's perspective. Having a large family of my own, and a man who has so many demands on his time and energy, I supported Kate in her decisions about handling the Duke.
I have 2 of the previous books in this series, and I can't wait to dive into them. I love reading books where the author isn't afraid for her heroine to just be a woman.
taisie22's review against another edition
3.0
Kate Ross and the Lawrence Pembroke, Duke of Ravenwood, don't like each other much; she's too flighty and headstrong for the stern, organized Duke. Of course, they get caught in a compromising situation and are forced into marriage.
Kate doesn't want a husband, mostly because she's afraid of having children and them dying. Ravenwood secretly wants a family and true love so their marriage starts off a bit rocky. It takes a while and some compromise for them to finally learn about each other and get their HEA.
While I found it interesting that Ravenwood decided to give Kate time to come to terms with her situation and not try to seduce her into his bed before time, I also didn't feel much heat between the two. It seemed more like they decided to make the best of things, even though they were both so busy, they didn't spend any time together. I felt as if they were determined to fall in love with each other, and so they did which wasn't very romantic.
It's a good fast read, but not one of my favorites.
Kate doesn't want a husband, mostly because she's afraid of having children and them dying. Ravenwood secretly wants a family and true love so their marriage starts off a bit rocky. It takes a while and some compromise for them to finally learn about each other and get their HEA.
While I found it interesting that Ravenwood decided to give Kate time to come to terms with her situation and not try to seduce her into his bed before time, I also didn't feel much heat between the two. It seemed more like they decided to make the best of things, even though they were both so busy, they didn't spend any time together. I felt as if they were determined to fall in love with each other, and so they did which wasn't very romantic.
It's a good fast read, but not one of my favorites.
bananatricky's review against another edition
4.0
Three and a half stars.
Am I up-to-date with this series yet?
Another couple we have seen signalled on the horizon for some time, the very honourable Duke of Ravenwood and Miss Katherine Ross.
Ravenwood is on the surface a cold, dutiful Duke, a man who religiously attends to his duties in the House of Lords but dislikes the company of other people. Inside however he is a true romantic and a poet, forever scarred by the deaths of his parents and his guardian's callous removal of any and all memories of them from his home.
Katherine is Ravenwood's opposite, she is a patron of the arts, she owns her own museum and she likes nothing more than to entertain others.
When Ravenwood's sister Amelia (the heroine of the first of these novellas) invites him to supper and asks him to assist Katherine by attending an auction she is holding (Ravenwood's rare presence at an event would bring the rest of the ton flocking) he can't say no. But when Katherine's Aunt Havens accidentally turns an innocent encounter into a potential scandal there is no choice but for the two of them to marry to save Katherine's face.
This is kind of a mish-mash of [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926] and [b:The Taming of the Shrew|47021|The Taming of the Shrew|William Shakespeare|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327935253s/47021.jpg|3152341]. Katherine and Ravenwood dislike each other (whilst of course privately acknowledging the hotness) but their dislike is based on ignorance and prejudice. Once they are forced into marriage they start to uncover their misconceptions.
Why the so-so mark? Ravenwood and Katherine individually were such nice characters that I just couldn't understand why they took so long to gel.
I like these books but I have to say they are totally modern books set in a historical setting. There is no attempt to bring historical accuracy to the characters' actions or speech which can lead to some glaring anachronisms. That might put you off if you want to be immersed in the period, TBH these books are so short I just enjoy the romp.
Am I up-to-date with this series yet?
Another couple we have seen signalled on the horizon for some time, the very honourable Duke of Ravenwood and Miss Katherine Ross.
Ravenwood is on the surface a cold, dutiful Duke, a man who religiously attends to his duties in the House of Lords but dislikes the company of other people. Inside however he is a true romantic and a poet, forever scarred by the deaths of his parents and his guardian's callous removal of any and all memories of them from his home.
Katherine is Ravenwood's opposite, she is a patron of the arts, she owns her own museum and she likes nothing more than to entertain others.
When Ravenwood's sister Amelia (the heroine of the first of these novellas) invites him to supper and asks him to assist Katherine by attending an auction she is holding (Ravenwood's rare presence at an event would bring the rest of the ton flocking) he can't say no. But when Katherine's Aunt Havens accidentally turns an innocent encounter into a potential scandal there is no choice but for the two of them to marry to save Katherine's face.
This is kind of a mish-mash of [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926] and [b:The Taming of the Shrew|47021|The Taming of the Shrew|William Shakespeare|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327935253s/47021.jpg|3152341]. Katherine and Ravenwood dislike each other (whilst of course privately acknowledging the hotness) but their dislike is based on ignorance and prejudice. Once they are forced into marriage they start to uncover their misconceptions.
Why the so-so mark? Ravenwood and Katherine individually were such nice characters that I just couldn't understand why they took so long to gel.
I like these books but I have to say they are totally modern books set in a historical setting. There is no attempt to bring historical accuracy to the characters' actions or speech which can lead to some glaring anachronisms. That might put you off if you want to be immersed in the period, TBH these books are so short I just enjoy the romp.
robinwalter's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Sweet, fast fun
kristi518's review against another edition
3.0
Having read several of the books in this series I was anxiously awaiting Ravenwood's story. I was a little disappointed as I read this book because the story fell a bit flat for me. The characters in the book didn't seem as well developed as in the rest of the series.
Kate and Ravenwood are likable enough but they just didn't leap off the page at me. I didn't really find myself that interested in their story until well after the halfway point. They seemed a bit bland and one-dimensional. Ravenwood was a bit too brooding for my taste. Kate was independent and I found that to be refreshing.
The storyline was easily predictable and one I felt like I had read before. The author did add her own touches to the story to make it her own which was nice. I like her writing style and find her books easy to read.
All in all, this wasn't a bad book and my rating is really more of a 3 1/2 stars. This was a quick and easy read that wasn't too deep or thought provoking.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
Kate and Ravenwood are likable enough but they just didn't leap off the page at me. I didn't really find myself that interested in their story until well after the halfway point. They seemed a bit bland and one-dimensional. Ravenwood was a bit too brooding for my taste. Kate was independent and I found that to be refreshing.
The storyline was easily predictable and one I felt like I had read before. The author did add her own touches to the story to make it her own which was nice. I like her writing style and find her books easy to read.
All in all, this wasn't a bad book and my rating is really more of a 3 1/2 stars. This was a quick and easy read that wasn't too deep or thought provoking.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
cathepsut's review against another edition
3.0
If you are in need of a silly regency romance with scattered-brained women and tall, dark and broody Dukes, Earls or otherwise entitled menfolk, wearing frocks and waistcoats, look no further than the Dukes of War series.
This one is fairly short, only 200 pages, and the plot is full of the usual romance tropes, with a little tension thrown in at the end. Nothing surprising or unusual, with the required HEA at the end.
I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
This one is fairly short, only 200 pages, and the plot is full of the usual romance tropes, with a little tension thrown in at the end. Nothing surprising or unusual, with the required HEA at the end.
I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!